Pingyao International Film Festival opens for submissions

The 2nd Pingyao Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon International Film Festival (PYIFF) will open in Pingyao, Shanxi province on Oct 11. The festival will run until Oct 20.

Currently, the festival organizers are accepting submissions, with the awards open to any films from around the world. Directors must submit their films by Aug 15.

According to the official website, the festival will include 22 categories including Crouching Tigers, a selection of the debut or second feature films by new directors around the world; Hidden Dragons, a selection of genre cinema from around the world; Galas, a selection of international or Asian premieres of the year’s major films; Best of Fest, a selection of the finest films from the year’s major international film festivals and New Generation China, a selection of Chinese-language films from new directors with inspirational themes.

The Fei Mu jury, named after the director of the 1948 Chinese classic Springtime in a Small Town, will select the winners at the festival.

And the Roberto Rossellini Award for best director and best film will also be announced during the festival. The winning director will receive a prize of 60,000 yuan ($9,552).

Established by Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke and curated by Italian film producer Marco Muller, the inaugural PYIFF aims to encourage talented filmmakers in their work. The first festival was successfully held in October 2017.